Do Genital Warts Go Away Forever On Their Own

“More than 90% of new HPV infections, including those with high-risk types, clear or become undetectable within 2 years, and clearance usually occurs in the first 6 months after infection”

People that are infected with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) may not have had the infection show symptoms, as over 90% of the HPV infection will go away without treatment.

For a person exposed to a partner who has a genital wart-causing strain of HPV, it usually takes about 6 weeks to 3 months for genital warts to appear, says the National Women’s Health Resource Center.

In the case that genital warts eventually go away with or without treatment, you may still have the HPV virus in your body and stays in the skin forever.

A such, genital wart keeps coming back is a possibility – especially if your immune is weak.

How Long Does It Take For Genital Warts To Go Away?

On the frequently asked question of “how long do genital warts last untreated?” —

According to McKinley Health Center, many genital warts go away without treatment and this, varying from person to person, could take anything from months to 2 years or longer period depending on how long it takes the body’s immune system to fight and suppress the HPV virus.

When HPV does not go away, the HPV virus can live in a dormant state in the skin, whereby low risk HPV virus may cause recurring genital wart growth.

Are Genital Warts Curable in Males and Females?

Once infected, there is no cure for HPV virus itself – but treatment is available for the health effect that HPV can cause, such as genital warts caused by low-risk HPV-6 or HPV-11 strains.

The genital warts treatment methods include:

Option 1: Genital Warts Surgery

The doctor will first diagnose then decide which surgery procedure is the best and most appropriate, depending on the location and size of wart you have:

Surgical excision that cuts out the genital wart with a surgical knife.

While you should check with your local medical professionals to determine the exact genital wart surgery cost, the table below can serve as quick reference for you to get a feel of the consultation fee and surgical wart removal cost range.

Option 2: Topical Treatment With Genital Wart Cream

While hefty cost and scarring risk associated with the invasive surgery remain the key concerns for many people, another alternative is topical treatment with genital wart ointments.

For those who are looking for genital wart treatment at home, check out this comprehensive genital wart cream review guide to make educated decision, or refer the recommendations below that can help you to cure genital warts safely and effectively.

#1: Condyline podofilox cream

Condyline is a doctor-recommended topical solution widely used for HPV genital warts treatment, with prescription required.

The active ingredient in Condyline paint is Podophyllotoxin, a plant extract with antiviral and antiwart properties.

Nevi-Skin is an over the counter topical cream formulated with natural herbal extracts to treat genital warts, common warts, and plantar warts. Nevi-Skin cream is also formulated to treat skin tags, moles, and syringoma.

How To Prevent Genital Warts – From Coming Back?

Below are some tips to help prevent or reduce risk of genital warts (from coming back):

1. Use condom for intercourse, though latex condom reduce but do not eliminate the risk of HPV transmission that potentially causes genital wart, as condom may not cover all genital skin that is exposed during sexual contact, that HPV can live in genital areas not covered by a condom.

2. Reduce sex partners, as multiple sexual partners and anal intercourse increase the risk for genital wart infections, with the only reliable method of prevention is sexual abstinence.

3. Do not share sex toys, because study from the Indiana University School of Medicine shows HPV was detected on vibrator just after use in women with vaginal HPV. The HPV are still detected on the sex toys immediately after cleaning and 24 hours after cleaning, that further demonstrates the HPV transmission risk by sharing sex toys.

4. Take genital warts HPV vaccine like Gardasil, which works best when given before first sexual contact and exposure to HPV. The vaccine helps the body develop immunity against the HPV strains that cause genital warts.

Are Genital Warts Curable – Summary & Recommendations

Genital warts do not go away forever on their own or after treatment, because the HPV virus can stay in your body and live in a dormant state.

Genital warts are curable (and preventable), with medical surgery and topical cream are the most common treatment methods — in which this guide has provided an overview with actionable advice to help you make an educated decision.

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